Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-24
NOT FOR THE MONEY.

In the drawing room of small house
one of a very long terrace Ia north
ern suburb of London-sat a girl by the
freight. The room, long narrow one,
With folding doors, was shabbily and
poorly furnished. The furniture and
cheap ornaments, however, hao been care
fully busted and brushed. Evidently
their owners had endeaVored to make the
best of their threadbare appearance. The
girl lay almost at full length on low
American chair placed straight across the
hearthrug, seemingly for the purpose of
getting the greater f amount of beneht
rom thee poor fire burning in the CRATE.
She was tall, slight and fair, and certainly
hood looking. And wealth of chestnut
gair crowned the top of an exceedingly
we'll shaped head. The eyes, large and
well opened, looked dreamily into the
FIRE.
The door opened, and lady entered.
Shutting the door softly, she stepped with
a gliding motion to the girl in the Amer
can chair, and stood looking at her. The
relationship was evident. Tie mother
was the image of the daughter, grown
older, petrified, as it we're, into distinct
ly unpleasant looking middle age. The
chestnut hair had faded, without becom-
ing gray; her eyes, large and we'll opened,
like her daughters, had stony stare In
them; and her mouth the same discon
tented and sarcastic droop, ten times in
tensi6ed. Not pleasant old lady to
look upon by any means.
The girl had not removed her eyes
from the fire on her mothers entrance.
She remained in precisely the same posi-
ton, apparently oblivious of the fact that
Mrs. Grenoble's stony gaze was fixed up
on her face.
At last the mother broke the silence.
81 hope. Paula, you have read the letter
carefully, and have come out at last to a
sensible conclusion on the matter"
(which letter, and what conclusion ~
asked the girl, with sarcastic infection
of her low, clear voioea
ssDoo't be foolish, Paula," said heF
mother. "You know perfectly well what /
mean. You have chance that not one
girl in ten thousand has-the chance of a
rich, fortunate life, without worries, with
out cares, without
Glove" murmured the girl softly.
'Love!"y said her mother scornfulIy.
"What is love without money? or what is
love worth In comparison TO moneys Love
is mere word without substance, without
reality, without meaning. And you have
the opportunity of lifelong enjoyment
of princely fortune-.e50,0 900 that will
be yours as long as you remain single.
And you hesitate?"
Naturally" said Paula, CLEAN of mis-
chief lighting up the WEAKNESS of her
pale face. "Most girls object to the pros
pect of being an old maid"
''Listen to reason, Paula. You are very
young, only just turned 20. Your whole
life up TO the present moment has been
spent in weary, hopeless poverty. Not
the poverty of the very poor, who often
want daily bread, but who, the bread once
gained, have no appearances to keep up.
Ours is the poverty of the well born, the
well bred, the daily striving TO keep our
shabby clothes presentable, our shabby
house and furniture from getting even
more worn ano threadbare. Think what
you might do with that 100000 The
dresses you could nave to wear, the Jew
els you might buy; think how you would
have the chance of travelling in foreign
countries, of seeing places and things
you can only sigh and long for now in
vain. And then think of your life, mar
ried to Charles Etheridge on his paltry
$500 year, with no prospects of its ever
much increaeing."
When her mother spoke of the 100000
Paula's eyes CLEANED with strange light
and her mouth lost its sarcastic droop,
and quivered with excitement. At the
mention of Charles Etheridge's name she
slightly brushed her lips with the letter
in her left hand.
sWen?" said her mother interroga
lively.
"Ah," said Paula, lazily changing her
position in the American chair, SO as to
face her mother, "You were saying some
thing to me just now. 1t seemed rather
long. I don't quite remember it all. All,
yes; about the 100000, and Uncle Dicks
insane will. By the way, l suppose he
wasn't mad when he made it, was he? 1t
couldn't be disputed or anything of that
kind, could it? What pity! $4,000 is
worth having"
eyes," said Mrs. Grenoble, land if you
have grain of sense in your compost
ton, you'll keep it, and send Charles
Etheridge about his business. You will
be able to ride in your carriage and"-
"Dress like the Princess of Wales"
said Paula languidly. "Yes. there is
something tangible about ready money,
after all. Oh! to have something else to
wear but this rag of gown! Let me
think. would have a tailor made cos
tune. One tailor made costume! No,
I'd have half dozen, one for every day
In the week, and tight fitting jacket
trimmed with sable, and a plush mantle
for the theatre, and, ond-oh, if it could
only bel" and the girls eyes spanked,
and cOvetous longing look came over
the fair face.
Her mother with few more words of
caustic persuasion left the roem. She |
thought she knew her daughters char
acter better than the girl herself. She
knew that the life of pinching poverty
had brought out all the worst traits in !
Paula's disposition, and she hoped to